Melancholy Thistles

are flowering down by the river.
The day started wet but set off anyway as it is sheltered in the woods. Rain soon stopped and, as soon as the sun came out the butterflies and birds all appeared. Wintergreen and Creeping Tresses are in flower, Ringlets and Common Blue butterflies in profusion and Crossbills and Crested Tits singing again.
The Mallard and her ducklings were enjoying the sun too!